Students with Disabilities in California

A growing share of California students need specialized support.

• California schools serve over 880,000 students with disabilities-about 15% of total enrollment. This share has risen 4 percentage points over the last decade, even as total enrollment declined.
• In education, a disability is something that affects a student's ability to learn or participate in school. Identification is typically initiated by parents or school staff and involves a formal evaluation. If a student qualifies, the school develops an individualized education plan (IEP).
• Special education covers a wide range of disabilities, from speech and language delays to learning, developmental, and physical disabilities. About three-quarters of students with an IEP have a learning disability (31%), autism (23%), or speech/language impairment (21%). Autism is the fastest-growing category, with its share rising 5 percentage points since 2022-23.

Most students with disabilities learn alongside their peers, but setting varies by disability type.

• Special education services must be provided at no cost and in the least restrictive environment, allowing students to learn alongside their peers without disabilities whenever appropriate.
• About 60% of students with disabilities spend 80% or more of their day in a regular classroom setting-but this varies significantly by disability type. Students with speech or language impairments and specific learning disabilities (e.g., dyslexia) are the most likely to spend most of their day in a regular classroom, while students with intellectual disabilities and autism are the most likely to spend time outside their regular classroom or to be in a separate school.